Strand tensioning apparatus

Abstract

A yarn tensioning device is illustrated employing longitudinally spaced stacks of transverse cylindrical rollers, the lowermost of which open upon a yarn passageway for exerting tension upon the yarn at spaced points along the yarn path which extends longitudinally beneath the rollers, wherein an upwardly extending passageway opens laterally and is defined by an upwardly extending member and an overhanging flange so that the yarn may be conveniently fed under the ends of the lowermost rollers which project into the passageway and then into the yarn passageway and retained therein during tensioning.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A yarn tensioning device comprising: a longitudinal housing comprised of longitudinally aligned upright receptacles providing a yarn passageway having an entrance and exit through said housing:   stacked cylindrical rollers carried transversely across said yarn passageway;   said rollers being carried in stacked relation in said receptacles for engagement with said yarn at longitudinally spaced positions along said yarn passageway for rotating said rollers;   said rollers being carried in stacked relation in said receptacles so as to be freely raisable when excessive yarn tension is applied;   a vertical slot in said housing extending upwardly from said passageway and in alignment therewith;   at least one yarn guiding means carried by said housing spaced externally of said vertical slot and transversely disposed thereacross above a lowermost roller in said receptacles permitting yarn to be threaded through said slot and over said yarn guiding means;   a transverse cutting means carried between said yarn guiding means and said rollers across said slot below said yarn guiding means for severing said yarn when tensioned sufficiently to raise said rollers so as to bring said yarn into engagement with said cutting means;   whereby yarn passes beneath said rollers and over said arcuate yarn guide means for turning said rollers, and so that excessive variations in yarn tension are compensated by raising of rollers which maintain substantially even tension until the rollers are lowered or become sufficiently elevated because of the application of additional tension to result in severing of the yarn by the cutting means.   
     
     
       2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting means includes a fixed mounting for a blade.